Sanctuary of Montenero, Livorno (must see)

In 1345 there was a shepherd of Tuscany who had a severe limp. One day he found an image of the Virgin Mary close to the Carrozze Square in Livorno. He heard the voice of the Virgin calling to him. The voice said, "Carry the painting to the top of the mountain." He did it. When got to the top his limp was gone. That was the first miracle.

In the 14th century Livorno was not much more than a simple fishing village. But the people were deeply religious and they worshipped holy images. The clergy disapproved. One day the local bishop threw one of these pictures into the river Ardenzo. It was the very picture the shepherd found and carried to the top of the mountain.

The image was Our Lady of Grace. One day in 1742 the image stopped a tsunami just short of the Main Square. The blessings grew and the donations grew and soon there was enough money to build a chapel. The shrine was in the care of the Tertiary Friars, the Jesuits and lastly, the Theatines. The shrine became known as the Sanctuary of Montenero.

In 1744 the Theatines expanded the Sanctuary of Montenero from a rectangular oratory to a Latin Cross plan. In 1792 the Sanctuary was cared for by the Benedictine Vallombrosa Monks. The Sanctuary is built around a square reached by a staircase. The main structure is the Church with the porch. The bell tower is on the side.

The style of the Church is Baroque, using stucco and marble columns. The center of the altar is occupied by an imposing image of the Madonna of Montenero all in blue and red holding a child. Rays of golden light frame the figures. The painting is by Iacopo Michele, an 14th century artist of the Pisan school.

The Municipalities Gallery holds the coats of arms of all the communities that donated to the shrine. The Aula Maria, opened in 2000, is a modern building for meetings covered by a hanging garden. Famedio is a porch that serves as a resting place for prominent Livorno decedents. Today the Sanctuary can be reached most conveniently by the Livorno funicular.